From secondary school queen to Miss India Guyana 2024 – Diana Heralal tells her story

By Mishael Henry

For 26-year-old Diana Heralal, the weight of a crown has never been a burden. Winning the first-ever pageant at Diamond Secondary School paved the way for her success at the Miss India Guyana 2024 Pageant, held at the Ramada Princess Hotel at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD).
Heralal’s journey in the realm of pageantry is a steadfast portrayal of holding a crown with unwavering determination. In an exclusive interview with Guyana Times hours before she winged off to the United States, the newly-crowned Miss India Guyana 2024 spoke about her rigorous journey to the coveted crown.

Heralal, who was born and raised at Timehri, East Bank Demerara, relayed that her path into pageantry started some 13 years ago, when she was at the back of her class in secondary school, catching up on old times with a very close friend.
“I was in class gossiping with my friends, and I had my earphones in. Then I saw the teacher come to the door, and she was talking about something. I wasn’t paying attention, (but) my friend next to me removed the earphones, (and) I asked what she was talking about, and my friend said something about pageantry. I stood up right away, and since then everything changed for me,” Heralal happily recalled.
That simple yet profound moment deepened her interest in pageantry, as she later became the first Miss Diamond Secondary Sari Queen, marking the school’s first competition. From that pivotal moment, her father saw signs of greatness in her, and placed her in the back of his pickup truck, parading her around and fuelling her interest in pageantry.

“After I won, we had a pickup van back then, and this man put me at the back of the van with my crown and he drove to Timehri. He was so proud, and that made me feel so amazing, because they were there supporting me,” she explained.
As her interest in pageantry grew, she decided to sign up for the Miss India Guyana competition. However, there were some minor hurdles in her way, which she began to learn to cross, including her busy tertiary education and career commitments that initially held her back.
“I started preparing mentally since then. I always wanted to do pageantry. Two years ago, I wanted to join the Miss India pageant, but I was so caught up in my career and studies that I didn’t have the time,” she explained.

In addition to time constraints, Heralal faced confidence issues. “As a teenager and young adult, I gained weight and became self-conscious. I felt like I wasn’t worthy of being in pageantry. But I believe the opportunity came at the right time, when I was prepared and ready for it. I wasn’t going to let it pass by,” she said.
Amid these situations which partially obscured her vision towards reaching her goal, she decided to undergo in-depth planning, and entered the competition on the exact day of the deadline.
“I couldn’t make up my mind. But in April, on the day of the deadline for submissions, I decided to do it. After that day, I had to make a schedule for myself. I wrote everything down: what I wanted to do, what I wanted to wear, my talent piece, hairstyle, makeup, and how much time off I needed from work. I had to balance my work and personal life, because it was stressful,” she said.

The crowned queen prepared herself mentally and physically for the competition, as she changed her diet, avoided foods that would cause her skin ‘to break out’, and took vitamins. Though she didn’t get to hit the gym as often as she had wanted, she made sure that her diet was on par. Her talent preparation was challenging, but she rose to the occasion.
“I was so frustrated. I didn’t know what songs to choose or what dances to do. I sought advice from different people. When I couldn’t get a move right, I would beat myself up, cry and worry; but after that, I got up and completed it. I went on stage and did the best I could,” she said.
In a grand coincidence, the final question she was asked in the Miss India Guyana pageant was similar to the one she answered in her primary school pageant.
“My final question for that pageant was, ‘What advice I would give to young women or children struggling’. It was basically the same question for Miss India. I believe that I was a step ahead because I was prepared for it.”
Remembering the night in which she was surrounded by scores of young women who were humbly waiting to hear their names being called, she revealed that she was glad for the support from her parents.
“On the stage of the Miss India Guyana, I couldn’t see out into the crowd because of all the lights. But I heard them! I heard their screams! I heard my name! And it really made me feel like I was loved and supported by these people,” she said.
With this significant journey, the queen offered proverbial advice based on her realization of the path she had endured during her journey.
“Please remember (that) when things are not going your way, it’s just the Universe telling you it’s probably not your time yet. But what is meant for you will never pass you! So, keep on putting in the work, believing in yourself, and you will accomplish all of your goals,” she said.
“There are so many beautiful young women out there who feel like they’re not enough or they’re not doing enough with all of the societal pressures and the digital influences that we have right now. Young women feel that they have to be someone they’re not. But to all the wonderful young women out there, you are unique in your own way. By being yourself, you might be inspiring others. And that’s who I am right now. This is who I am.”
Heralal related that she believes in herself. “I’m being myself. I’m a very humble person, and my goal is to inspire and uplift each and every young woman out there in Guyana, so that you can believe in yourself and you can go after your dreams,” she declared.
Now with the crown on her head, Diana will have big shoes to fill as she competes in the international pageant later this year, a title that is currently being held by Miss India Guyana 2023, Aruna Suhkdeo.
Throughout her one-year reign, Diana is committed to fulfilling various responsibilities and making the most of her journey.